It's about comfort levels

Well, it was great fun while it was happening, but it's time to bring this particular discussion on technology in umpiring to a close. You can view all the posts on this subject, with the earliest posts at the bottom, by clicking here. I'd like to thank Sambit Bal, Martin Williamson, S Rajesh and Andrew Miller for taking time off to take part in this, and we're all delighted that Bob Woolmer also shared his views with us.

I'm strongly pro-technology, and especially support Hawk-Eye, which I feel will be an invaluable tool for umpires in getting lbw decisions right. But one of the things I've learnt during this discussion is that accuracy is not the main point of contention here -- comfort is. For various reasons, well-stated here by Sambit and Martin and Andrew, opponents of technology are not comfortable with the technology, regardless of how well it may work. Whether they feel it diminishes the human touch, or changes the nature of the game, it is a view that must be taken seriously. After all, we are all stakeholders in the game. And we must keep talking.

The next discussion should be coming up in a week's time or so. Watch this space.